Coconut Granola

This Coconut Granola will whisk you away to the tropics! It is packed with coconut flavor, is easy to make and cheaper than store bought!

Tropical Paradise

This Coconut Granola recipe came about because I wanted to make a Tropical Acai Bowl, which will be posted in the next couple of weeks. I knew that I wanted to include some tropical ingredients, including coconut flavors.

I can not get enough of the ocean, so no wonder I would want to create something tropical. Why I ended up living in the desert is beyond me. Obviously, I had a good reason for moving to Tucson, but I may change that some day.

To me a tropical island is paradise, so whenever I can get tropical flavors into a recipe, I am all over it. It makes me feel like I am living in the tropics, even if it is just in my imagination.

My vision board is full of ocean views, so for now I will live through the pictures…

Bloggers Wear Many Hats

Before starting Create Mindfully, I cooked and created recipes, but never as many recipes as I do now. I used to buy my own hummus, dressing, and granola. Those days are long gone, and I am quite content with that.

If I wouldn’t have started this blog, I wouldn’t have realized how much I love creating recipes. Also, I wouldn’t have realized how easy it is to make things like hummus and granola.

I literally could create a new recipe daily, if it weren’t for all the other tasks that need to get done afterwards. With each new recipe comes photographing it, editing the photos, and writing up a post. Not to mention sharing it on social media.

Otherwise, I would probably be a recipe creating machine. It would be a lot of fun, but then I wouldn’t be able to share these recipes with all of you, and that gives me a lot of joy too.

For those of you who are bloggers, you’ll get where I am coming from. For those of you who aren’t, I have to tell you that we wear a lot of hats!

I used to think that I wore a lot of hats when I was an elementary school teacher, but I honestly think I wear more now. I get to be a recipe developer, writer, photographer, editor, food stylist, computer technician, and social media manager. I am sure that I could come up with more if I really thought about it.

Cheaper Than Store Bought

I have said this about hummus and I will say it about granola. There are some bags of granola that go anywhere from six to ten dollars, and they are small. I don’t think they are worth the price.

I recently got a free bag of granola that would have cost that much. I have to say that I wasn’t that impressed, especially when I can make my own.

Control the Ingredients

By making your own granola, you can control what goes in it. Have you ever read labels on granola and other products?

It’s kind of scary what manufacturers put in their products, like ingredients that are unrecognizable. No thank you! I’d rather make my own.

I get to control how much and what kind of sweetener goes in it. Some flavors need less sweetener than others. I like to stay away from sweeteners like corn syrup, thank you very much.

Easy To Make

Granola is really easy to make. You just mix your oats with some sweetener, coconut oil, and flavors, throw it in the oven, bake, and voilà, you have granola! Simple, right!

You can customize it to your liking. If you like peanut butter, add it in. If you prefer molasses over maple syrup, throw it in. I love both, so of course I had to I made Maple and Molasses Granola. The possibilities are endless…

This Coconut Granola is packed with coconut flavor, is easy to make and cheaper than store… Click To Tweet

 

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Coconut Granola

Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten free rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons agave syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup coconut chips
• 1/2 coconut flakes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. Heat coconut oil, agave syrup, and vanilla extract in microwave 20-30 seconds to combine.
3. Mix oats and syrup mixture. Spread out on parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes at 325°. Toss, and bake another 5 minutes. Add coconut chips and coconut flakes, and bake 5 minutes longer.